Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-12-02


arms filed with sketches and rough drafts
Look, they said scattering the sheets of
paper at the cobbler's feet, look, there
are Venuscs, nymphs and Loves also take
them all TO your child since he loves these
things perhaps he may be destined to be
come a great artist Bring him to us, we
will get our master to examine him ~
The happy old man confusedly expressed
his thanks and knew not how to show his
gratitude While putting the precious
drawings in order, he said to the children
Employ me as much as you wish. | will
take no more money from you, you have
paid me enough for your whole lives.
The scholars began to laugh at this idea
Come" said thev, Tomorrow bring
your little Joachim TO us - then, tossing
their balls into the air they went back to
the courtyard
The door-keeper accompanied the delight
ed old man TO the outer door. Good by
until tomorrow, said he, 81 promise to
speak to the principal about your child this
very day"
The happy cobber returned to his shop,
humming an old German tune. He had
not sang since the death of his dear wife,
and his pleasure must indeed have been
great, when il burst forth in the refrain
that the poor mother had murmured over
the cradle of their child.
On returning home he did not think of
resumng his work, but gave himself va
cation the rest of the day. He shut him
self up in his shop, and began TO arrange
the drawings, and hang them on the wall
he wished his child to have the pleasant
surprise of suddenly perceiving them on
his return from school The sketches of
Venus were placed in the centre, the Loves
and secondary R4rsOnages on each side
when this lahorf as completed, he went out
to buy his supper and as he had received
little money from the college, and this day
was to be a great holiday 20 him, brought
back goose an apple tart and pitcher of
beer The poor workman had not sat down
to such feast for many years. He spread
a white cloth over the little table, arranged
the dishes and viands upon it, concealed the
old shoes and tools in a corner, lighted the
fire in the stove, and the little iron lamps,
and impatientlv awaited Joachim's return.
The child came in bringing his father pot
| Of gilly flowers, which had been given him
bv the schoolmaster's wife, who was very
fond of him. 1t might have been supposed
| that foreseeing the little family festival he
wished to add the flowers for its adorn-
ment
"What is the matter - said he, as he
came into the shop, without noticing the
drawings hung on the wall "how hand
somely the table is set Do you expect the
old cousin from Schausen, who was TO visit
us month ago, to take tea =
Il expect no one but you it is for you
that have prepared this entertainment,
answered the father embracing his dear
child But look before you a moment, by
the side of the stovepipe,' he added.
Joachim raised his head, and saw the
sketches there was Il cry of astonishment,
then a long rapturous silence. He took
down two of them, placed them on the ta-
BILE, and resting his head on his hands, be
gan to look at the drawings with a singu-
larlv intent gaze At the bottom of one
were the words, from the statue of Venus
at Florence" and beneath the other was
written from frieze in the Parthenon at
Athens One Of these pencil sketches
was very imperfect copy of the Venus de
Medici; the other of one of the superb
canephores with floating drapery, that seem
to move on the frieze of the Parthenon.
and may be seen at the London Museum.
True. the pupils drawings gave an ex-
tremely imperfect idea of these divine
sculptures the relief, contours and proper
tions of the original were wanting above
all they lacked the golden hue that some
times gives marble the animation of life
No matter, the rough sketches preserved
some traces of the ideal beauty of these
wondrous creations of art Young Joa
chin gazed at them, intoxicated with de
light They rendered visible to his eyes,
for the first time, the beauty of form of
which he so often dreamed while reading
the Had But these two works of art,
whose outline he now perceived, still exist
ed in their full splendor in Greece and It
aly From that these two classic lands of
/ ba.au,a ba ,uorl1s of his dreams
The morning after this day the old cob
bier put on his Sunday clothes, dressed his
son in his best attire, and took him to the
college The door keeper received them
like patron, who was sure of his position.
Come come, my little friend, said he
with triumphant SMILE taking Joachim
by the hand. II have spoken of you to
our estimable principal, Herr Toppert, and
he is expecting YOU Turning to the cob
bier he added, Follow us, my good man,
you shall see that | promise nothing am
unable to perform
They crossed several corridors within
and reached the private apartments of the
principal He was a handsome old man,
with white hair and a calm yet expressive
countenance Drawing the child kindly
, toward him, he began to question him about
his studies Little Joachim replied to each
one, clearly, intelligently and promptly
the principal was astonished his questions
, were answered sometimes even more fully
than was necessary. For instance, wher
the child was questioned about Grecian lit
, erature, he showed how in that admirabl,
civilization, poetry and art had flowed from
, religion, and said several things concern
, ing the admirable sculptures of antiquity
that he could have known only by intui
4 | ton.
2 When the kind principal asked him if h'
A had any taste for drawing, he replied tina
he felt its charm and that to learn the ar
t would be useful to him, if only by fixing IL
t his mind the lines and contours of the mas
terpieces of statuary and painting whicl
especially pleased him, as one writes note
5 on a literary subject.
r The principal noticed the good sense o
t the reply and promised that he should en-
B., ter the drawing class next morning.
a Good heavens, can it be I" cried tn
- cobbler, who had kept silent "You ar
going to admit my poor child to your col
, lege :"
5 ''Yes, let him come tonight with his lug
; gage it is a settled affair.
4 The cobbler stammered incoherent thank
e and blessings the child bowed respectful
ly and gracefully to the principal, VIII
d kissed him ON the forehead, repeating
J. lnlS evening" my uJlle lIiehu II
z father and child went away full of happi
It ness, thanking the door-keeper thousan
j. times
II At first the cobbler had thought of moth
n ing but the education his son was to obtain
l. and the boy, only of his dear studies Blu
when they returned together to the llttl
e shop, where their mutual affection had Civ
II en- them such happy hours the evening be
T. fore, little Joachim began to cry as he mad
o a bundle of his books, shirts and shabb
e clothes, and his father burst into violen
II sobs Tears do not injure the young the
l, are like the dew resting on flowers, bu
l. those of old men are bitter and destructive
e they are like hurricanes which shake, an
5, uproot, and devastate. The poor cobble
Is had grown so pale as he helped his sol
Ie that it seemed as if he were attacked b
?, some sudden illness.
Ie at is so sad TO think that | shall not l
IF able TO come here every evening TO eat m
IS supper and sleep with YOU" said the chill
IN whose tears were still flowing.
j. at must be so, replied his father, try
'. ing to conceal his own grief 'you sha
ID bid me goodnight by tossing twig or lii
10 tie pebble over the wall. y
The child smiled at the idea, and prom
n ised that he would never fail to do So The
in strengthened each other as much as the
could, and toward night-fall went to IL
r. college door il quickly closed upon lit
le Joachim, they had even been obliged TO c'
d, short their farewell,
of 1t was the hour for evening recreation
- .E..l Il. 70 Gfu